Power of Moms Radio

A couple of months ago, Saren and I were talking about which Power of Moms activities are most enjoyable and exciting for us.

We decided that podcasting together was at the top of the list.

We spend lots of time talking about our organization's needs, and sometimes we just want to talk about life and motherhood and personhood, and all the thoughts that are swirling around in our heads.

So we decided to start our own weekly Power of Moms radio show--and this past Monday, we made our first recording. It was SO fun!

(You can click the image below to learn more.)

 

During the show, we talked about what moments from 2012 were most memorable and what we want to focus on for 2013.

I was scrolling through my photos during the call, and these are two photos that really stood out.

First is a photo I snapped at the beach last summer when my brother and dad were helping my mom walk across the sand. (She's had a hip and knee replacement, so sand-walking isn't her favorite, but look how happy this made her!) Spending that afternoon in a beach chair with my family by my side was a treasure.

This second photo is from a Mommy-Daughter night that Grace and I attended together at church. We wore our jammies and painted our nails orange and learned about yoga and hairstyling. We ate snacks and visited with our friends and had such a memorable time together.

Although a lot of great things have resulted from the hours I've invested in writing and emailing, it's moments with the people I love that mean the most.

So this year, once I finally catch up from Christmas break, I plan to ease up on the non-interpersonal tasks and increase the beautiful personal experiences that make life so sweet.

Click here if you'd like to listen to the full conversation on this topic--on our first radio show!

(Did I mention how excited I am?)

Happy 4th Birthday to The Power of Moms

Saren and I haven't been tracking the history of our site very carefully, but I just found an email dated September 2, 2007 called "Power of Moms Launch," so this month, we are wishing The Power of Moms a very happy 4th birthday.  

This was my situation at the time of the launch:

• eight months pregnant with my fourth child, Spencer (he came 10 days later)
• had been working on this website for more than a year with some good friends who served on our initial board
• scared to death to launch it because I didn't know if I could keep up with a monthly newsletter
• decided I would just go ahead and take the plunge before I delivered my baby (because who knew when I would have arms free to work on the computer while caring for a newborn)
• knew somewhere in my heart that this was the first step toward something monumental in my life

Saren and I teamed up just a few months after the site went live (she had a website of her own, which now serves as the basis of our Learning Circles and Retreats), so really, The Power of Moms has two birthdays, but If you're interested, here's what I sent to a small group of my friends at the first launch:

From:"April Perry" 

Sent:Sun 9/2/07  12:35 am
Subj:"Power of Moms" Launch

Hello, Fellow Mothers!

I am excited to announce that we have launched the website
http://www.powerofmoms.com/ .  This is an interactive website designed to connect
mothers and help them to teach, inspire, and encourage one another.  I
would love for you to be a part of it!

We are still in the process of adding more content and features to the
site, but the majority of it is up and running and ready for submissions!
On the site, you will find articles that focus on how moms can look at the
world optimistically (general and religious), journal entries that
highlight special mothering moments, book abstracts to help mothers select
the best books to read, and a forum titled "Moms' Perspectives."  We
also have a monthly challenge, a monthly value (linked with Richard and
Linda Eyre's Values Parenting website), and a yearly project.

Please forward this link on to anyone you think might enjoy visiting or
participating.  The whole point of the site is to strengthen mothers by
providing a way for us to teach and learn from each other.  I consider you
to be outstanding women, and I hope this is a site you will enjoy!

Love,

April

 

It's now been four whole years. (See my baby?)

 

Four years of work with women who are like sisters to me.  Four years of learning from other mothers who inspire me to be deliberate in how I raise my children.  Four years of doing "scary" things every day--and realizing that even though I'm not as smart as I need to be, those who work with us on the site, the community at The Power of Moms (and the Lord, of course) make up for where I lack.

I honestly didn't know where this was going to go (and if I had, I probably wouldn't have been brave enough to send out that initial email), but The Power of Moms has helped me to focus my time on the things that matter most, and if you haven't joined yet (it's free!), we have a great Member Package ready for you (and an exciting Couples Retreat in Park City this weekend). 

Such a fun way to celebrate a birthday!

Entitlement Webinar (Can't Wait!)

We just got back from a very nice (and much needed) two-week trip to Family Camp and to visit family and friends.  I'll have to post some photos and experiences from that trip soon, but honestly, coming home after a vacation always feels overwhelming to me for at least a week. 

It is fabulous to get away from the normal routine for a bit, but the laundry, phone calls, emails, etc. that inevitably pile up need some TLC, so I'm trying to keep things simple and involve my family in recreating the peaceful, orderly environment we so desperately need.

One exciting thing I do have going this week--tomorrow, actually, is our second Power of Moms webinar--this one featuring Saren's parents, Richard and Linda Eyre, and their new book, The Entitlement Trap.   (If you'd like to participate, click HERE for the details.)

Since Saren and I have been working closely together for so many years, we feel like sisters, and her parents feel like my extended family.  I remember sitting around their kitchen table after our May Park City Retreat, talking about the events of the day and our plans moving forward, and I thought, "How am I so lucky to have these people in my life?"  I adore my own parents and siblings, of course, but being able to work with the Eyre family has been nothing short of a blessing.

This webinar we're holding tomorrow night will focus on how to help our children develop a sense of ownership so they don't assume that they are "entitled" to everything they want.  I think my children are pretty incredible people, but I want to be sure I'm teaching them well.

When I hear things like, "Our car stereo isn't working, so I think we should get a new car" or "I don't like french toast for dinner" I wonder how I can help my children develop more gratitude for what they have and a greater willingness to help out around the home. 

Of course I want them to enjoy childhood (this picture of Grace makes me smile),

 but I also need to prepare them for the responsibilities of adulthood.

Since I'm going to be moderating the webinar and the chat feature, I've been thinking about my most pressing "entitlement questions."  Here's what I have so far:

• What kinds of rewards can I use to motivate my children?  I don't want to feel like I'm "paying" them for every little thing.

• How much responsibility is too much responsibility for children?  How do you find that balance between expecting great things and letting them enjoy their childhood?

• How do I help my children to develop a love for giving back?

• What are the best ways to show my children that most of the world doesn't have all the comforts that they do?

• How can I encourage my children to go above and beyond what is expected of them (and not just settle for "good enough")?

• What are the best ways to help my children use their free time in productive ways?  Too many hours of computer, video games, TV, etc. often feel like a waste of time (but they still need "down" time).

• How can I respond to feelings of entitlement in the moment?  Sometimes I recognize it, but I don't know quite what to say (besides, "Arrrrgggggghhhh!").

• If you could give me one piece of advice to start creating a stronger culture of ownership and gratitude, what would that be?

I'm getting excited for this webinar!  Any other questions you'd like to add?

When I Sleep

I've been a little hesitant to write this blog post (for a variety of reasons), but so many people have been asking me where I find time to work on The Power of Moms while I'm taking care of my family and trying to get in 8 hours of sleep, so I thought I could share some strategies that work for me.  (Please add your thoughts in the comments section!  I would love to read them.)

I have about 10 minutes before my children will need me downstairs, so I'll make this quick:

My goal is to be present and happy with my family members, get 8 hours of sleep in each 24-hour period, and work efficiently and effectively on meaningful projects when I can. 

(1) I don't watch TV (except for an occasional show on Netflix once or twice a week).  The average American watches more than 30 hours of TV each week, so if you cut it out, you can get a lot more done (and a lot more sleep).

(2) My bedtimes vary, but here are a few scenarios to get in my eight hours of sleep:

• Some nights I go to bed around 10 pm and get up at 4:30 am, then I take an hour and a half nap during the day.

• When I have a huge, pressing project, I go to bed at 7:30, get up at 11:30, work until 3:30, go back to bed until 6:30, and then take a one-hour nap that day. I like having four uninterrupted hours to work.

• I try not to stay up too late, but maybe once a week, I'll work from 8 pm until midnight, then get up at 6 am, and take a two-hour nap that day.

(3) All my housework is done with my family.  I don't cook, clean, do laundry, fold laundry, organize, etc. when my children are sleeping.  When they get tucked into bed, I'm either spending time with my husband, sleeping, reading/relaxing, or working.

(4) I do the Mind Organization for Moms program every single day.  That way, when 15 minutes pop up, I'm able to focus on the most essential tasks (or forget the tasks for awhile and spend time with my kiddos).

(5) M.O.M. has also helped me fall asleep quickly.  When I get into bed, I am asleep within about five minutes.

(6) My situation is a little unique because my husband is actually busier than I am, so his momentum keeps me going.  I know that not everyone has a spouse who shares their same drive, so you have to make your schedule work with your spouse's needs.  If my husband wants "down time" together, then I take that opportunity.  Nothing that happens in my office is more important than him or my children.

(7) I'm excited about what I do (I honestly feel like being a mom and working with Saren and our board on The Power of Moms is the dreamiest of all jobs in the whole entire world).  That gets me up in the morning/middle of the night.  My work is not something I dread.  It's my playtime.

(8) If I'm having a tough week (hormone-wise or stress-wise), then I make early bedtimes a higher priority.  This week, I was "recovering" from the Retreat and prepping for some pretty big projects, so I felt more tired than usual.  For the past three nights, I've gone to bed at 9:30, gotten up at 5:30, and then taken a 90-minute nap each day. 

(9) Whenever I feel grumpy, I simplify my day and get to sleep ASAP.

(10) I probably need to say that my children typically sleep from about 8 pm until 5:45 am.  We start the bedtime routine around 6:30 so it's totally quiet by 8.  My three "older" children are a huge help with Spencer, so if I'm needing more rest, they're more than happy to get him breakfast, turn on a little cartoon for him, and help keep him quiet for me.  My children also do all their own lunch-packing, school prep, etc.  I just help brush their hair, have family scripture study with them, and then take them to school.  My husband helps out in the mornings a lot, too.  We consider ourselves to be on the same team, so we do what we can to make life easier for each other.  (This is something I never take for granted because I know it's not the norm.)

Okay, maybe that was more than you wanted to know?  Or maybe I didn't answer your most pressing questions?  Please let me know what ideas you have or what I left out.

Sleep is a beautiful thing.  But so is family.  And so is working on exciting projects.  My goal is to have the best of all three.

Our May Park City Retreat

I'm in "catch-up mode" after being away from my home for a few days for our Retreat, but I had to take a moment to post a couple of things I received through my email this morning.

First, our darling photographer, Rebecca Walters, sent us some photos that depict the Retreat experience beautifully:

 

  

 

 

Aren't those amazing?  For some reason, when I try to write about my experiences at our Power of Moms Retreats, I'm at a loss for words.  All I can think to say is "Light.  Beauty.  Inspiration.  Nobility.  Renewed purpose.  Magic."  When you get that many mothers in one room, who are truly dedicated to making their homes and families great, there is a unique energy that you have to feel in order to understand.

I need to get back to my little Spencer, so I'll close with this letter we got from one of our sweet attendees:

Saren and April,

I just had to thank you for a wonderful weekend. The retreat was exactly what I needed to fill my bucket. Saturday truly was a feast and I've come away feeling so empowered and, well, really the best way I can describe the change I have already started to feel because of all I've learned is....."Momfidence"! Yes! Momfidence! 

I know I'm not perfect and I don't know why I didn't get all these concepts and things before, but somehow in your presentations and stories, I "got it". 

I believe last night as I returned home to my children and today as well, I AM trying to be a Deliberate Mother, and I enjoy it! 

After Fridays Mind Organization presentation, I found myself a little frustrated that my hubby and I hadn't booked 1 more night in a hotel to really talk about things and have more of a vacation away from it all. Then after Saturdays "feast", something magical happened. I found I couldn't wait to get back to the parking lot where my sweet husband was and then to get home an d see my boys. 

Upon arriving home, I found myself relishing every minute with them. The old me would have rushed in the house to see what messes awaited me that I had to get to, swiftly unpacked, etc. I sat on the porch and listened to each of them tell me of their adventures over the weekend and kept looking at all of them and thinking what an enormous blessing and privilege it was to be their mother. 

I had the best time on the hour drive home telling my husband all I learned. He was excited--we both are about this fresh new start we feel in our marriage and our parenting. We feel more of a team than ever. He even took me in his arms last night and asked me tenderly what I needed to thrive! I seriously think I've never been so attracted to him, lol. 

Well, I know you must be receiving hundreds of e-mails but I did want to thank you for how this retreat has changed my life. I am amazed at how much more patience I have with my children because I have become tuned to my inner voice which has in turn given me more control over my outer voice. I am already seeing more peace, contentment and just deliberate joy, love and strength in our home. 

I guess I never fully realized just how much my attitude and how I approached my job as Mom really set the tone and mood and overall effect and feeling in the home. I am doing my best and it is enough and I have Momfidence! Thank you so much. I love you both and appreciate all you are doing to be a resource in my favorite job!


I am so grateful for the chance I have to help with these Retreats.  Saren and I try to make it perfectly clear that we are not the ones who deserve the thanking.  Anything we're able to do is because of the power of God.  We're just filled with appreciation to Him for letting us be a part of this work.


Have a wonderful day!

April

The FIRST Power of Moms T-Shirts!

I have honestly been dreaming about wearing a Power of Moms T-shirt for years.  We've been working with a friend's company to put together an order, but the details haven't quite worked out yet, and I started to get a little ancy.

So yesterday I bought a couple of white shirts and some iron-on transfer paper and made my own.  They're not professionally designed, by any means, but they are mine, and they represent something that's a huge part of my life.  Once I finished the ironing, I was so excited that I made a video so you could share in the excitement (but I'm feeling a little silly about this, so I'm not sure how long this post will stay up).

 

I made this second shirt, too, which I'm equally excited about, but I didn't think it was necessary to record a second video.  (And I could edit/rotate the photo, but it's late, and I've got to get ready for the Power of Moms Retreat this weekend . . . yes, I am definitely going to take the t-shirts with me!  Would it be distracting if I wore them while I was presenting?)

 

If you are also dying to wear a t-shirt like this, I put the images up on our website HERE.  I'm sure we'll have a wide variety of design options soon, but if you make one of these, you can say that you had one of the VERY FIRST Power of Moms t-shirts.  Your children would be so proud.  Yay!

Goodnight!

Our Day with KSL and "The Book"

I've spent the past two weeks getting on top of my life.  I'll need to do a post later about what that process looked like for me (because it worked, and I'm feeling wonderful now), but I've been thinking, organizing, establishing new routines, creating better habits, and learning to focus the few hours I have to do "extra" stuff each week.  

As I pull myself out of that process and back into the real world, I wanted to post a few things about The Power of Moms.

This photo, below, is Amanda Wilkinson, Saren, and me at Amanda's home a few weeks ago.  Studio 5, a TV show in Utah, did a spot on Learning Circles (video is at the bottom of the page), and Saren and I had the privilege of being there for the interview and meeting Amanda and her incredible group.  It was a "payday" for us to see an actual Learning Circle in progress (that we didn't lead or organize ourselves).  They are a strong, dedicated, amazing group of women.

Later that day, we also met with Catherine Arveseth and Allyson Reynolds, dear friends and Power of Moms authors who are helping us do some of the final editing on this book we're dying to get published soon (I've linked to their blogs on my sidebar). 

 

I had only known Catherine through email and her blog, so it was a thrill to meet her in person, and Allyson and I have only met a handful of times, but she's one of my dearest friends, so our lunchtime discussion and book brainstorm session was seriously heaven.

 

I have about 30 minutes before Spencer wakes up and about 30 things to do, so I'll close with this two-minute clip from Studio 5 that aired yesterday.  Although I'm stretched to my limits and working during odd hours of the day and night, I must say that the associations and opportunities that are available to me through this organization are worth every ounce of effort.

The New Power of Moms is UP!

I can't explain how many hours have been spent behind a computer screen (by me, Saren, Jared, Alisha, Lisa, Allyson, and Anna) to get this new website ready to launch. 

I owe a HUGE thank you to all the board members at The Power of Moms who make this organization work.  They are incredible.

And now that this new site is up, we're hoping to get some regular bedtime hours back in place, and I'm thinking I might actually start keeping up with this blog. 

So without further adieu . . . Dun-duh-duh-DA! The new version of The Power of Moms is here (click on the logo below). 

You Just Never Know Your Influence

Today has been a great day, but I must admit that Saren and I are feeling a little tired.  We've been working (with our amazing board members) during every spare moment for weeks to plan our April Retreat, coordinate the new book we're publishing, strengthen the foundation of our growing organization, and get our new website ready (you can take a sneak peek at http://new.powerofmoms.com).

I absolutely love working on meaningful projects and associating with the moms at The Power of Moms, but sometimes when I look at the projects around my house that aren't getting done, or reflect on the fact that I have very little "down time," I wonder if I'm being as effective with my time as I ought to be.  I try not to let any of this work bleed into my time with my children, so I end up working in the middle of the night, early in the morning, during ten-minute pockets during the day, etc.

Then I see things like this blog post, and I realize that this is so much bigger than me. 

A couple of years ago, I wrote an article for the website called "Defying Gravity."  I felt like everything in the world was trying to pull me away from accomplishing my dreams, so I decided to start listening to the voice inside that tells me I can become more--in spite of the everyday "gravity," and without having to sacrifice the quality of my family life. 

Then Saren and I included that article in our Learning Circles program, and the feedback I've received from that one article--written over the course of a week while I was suffering through some health problems--reminds me that you can never really measure your influence.  You never know how something you do is going to help someone else.  And you can't anticipate how someone ten times as talented as you are might build on your small little effort. 

I see all my flaws very clearly.  I know painfully well how much I am lacking, and I know how much work it's going to take to get where I want to be.  But at the same time, I have to be satisfied with what I am able to give today. 

I think of all the incredible people who inspire me each day, and the majority of them have no clue that they are the ones who keep me going.  So today's post is meant to thank the people out there who live deliberate lives, share the beautiful things they're learning, lift those around them, and influence the rest of us who appreciate them more than we can ever say.


Have you ever had an experience where something small that you did influenced others for good?  Or a time when another person's life powerfully influenced you?

Survey Results from The Power of Moms

We did a survey last week and asked our readers why they visit The Power of Moms.  Here's what they had to say:

• Articles are encouraging and empowering. I don't feel alone in the struggle to be a good mom.

• Honest stories about the ups and downs of motherhood.

• It gives me a daily reminder to look at motherhood in a positive light.

•   To be uplifted and encouraged and to see that I'm not the only one going through the issues I'm having as a mother.

• Connection to other mothers who are trying to parent on purpose.

• Inspiration, Ideas, Motivation

• It encompasses everything I hope to use to follow my passion of helping other moms on their journey.

• I have just discovered your site so I look forward to exploring it more and more. I have felt on more than one occasion that what I am reading is inspired and what I needed in that moment. I come to your site for ideas on how to take care of the woman within and to be inspired to be a better mother on a daily and sometimes hourly basis. I think what you offer is education, ideas, and support.

• Primarily the opportunity to connect with moms in a powerful way. I appreciate the blog posts/articles because it increases my sense of connection with other like minded moms. I also appreciate how diligent the founders are in presenting new, creative and varied ways of linking mothers together.

• I love grounding myself in good principles. I find direction when I visit the site. I find comfort and strength in seeing the trials and triumphs of other intentional mothers.

• I love that the emphasis is on positive mothering and that it is a deliberate choice. Perfection is not necessary to be a great mother!

• This is what I want to be a part of.

• It "professionalizes" being a mom. It takes being a mom seriously, the good and the bad. I come because reading the articles makes me feel validated.

• I come to the website to read and gather great thoughts and ideas of other moms that help me improve myself and my family life.

• I love to learn and find out more about ways that make motherhood an easier task or help me be a better mom.

• How inclusive the reach is; it's not just for one "kind" of mom--it's for purposeful moms.

• To be a better mum, a more organised mum and one that still has God at the forefront of her life.

• Women need to realize that there is a strength from working together. We will find much more power and success for ourselves and our families if we learn from each other. This website offers opportunities for that specific type of learning in real time.

• To help me grow in my mothering journey in becoming the type of Mum I want to be. The ideas offered are wonderful at helping me see either that other people do this too / feel this way too, or give me food for thought of ways I can be a better Mum right now, or where I'd like to be heading.

• I have a hard job as a mother and I appreciate insights others have and love to hear about what worked or didn't for them so I have new ideas to work with.

• I want to be a better Mom. I just need role models and ideas, because the world does not have the Mom that I envision portrayed, and Power of Moms does.

• I think it's important for all the moms out there to know that their motherhood is powerful. Mothers can change the world through the way they raise and teach their children. It's nice for us all to know we're not alone.

• I come for daily inspiration. I love it. It has changed the way I view mothering and the way I mother.

• Uplifting

• I don't have like minded moms around so I like coming to the site and feeling like some of my opinions about mothering and my family are validated as other moms feel the same way.

• For ways to keep at it as a mom. When on the site I realize am not alone in my endeavors to raise a happy child while keeping my sanity.

• Because I like to see that other moms have similar thoughts and daily trials as I do. It helps me to fully enjoy being a mom!

• The positive and realistic approach (through your articles-I haven't had a chance to attend one of your retreats) to not just how to be a better mother, but how to be a better person. It is all intertwined-when we try to better ourselves, our family benefits. The same goes for working on being a better mom, it helps us become a better person. It is so easy to feel like I get "lost" in being a mom, without taking time for myself. Your website has the tools to help me balance both.

• The tone of the site and voices of the moms who contribute to it

• I love the feeling of having unlimited support. It is hard to find friends that have the are inspiring and try to uplift instead of complain. I get that from Power of Moms. I can't wait until I can attend a retreat

• Power of Moms is so important because not everyone knows how difficult and important the work of a mother is. To have a place to support each other and to explain to the world the difficulties and the triumphs and the power of positive mothering is life changing and world changing. I also love how the Bloom Game gives me a way to progressively improve in a customized way that doesn't overwhelm me. Mothers are overwhelmed and this site and the game make it more manageable and more supportive. Um, just thanks.

• It is good to have moms that support each other.

• I love reading articles by other Moms and seeing how we all struggle with similar things and how people seal with their challenges.

• I have enjoyed being a Learning Circle leader, and have seen the help and hope Learning Circle material has given to those in my group. I visit the website to get new ideas on how to handle age-old problems we are constantly dealing with as mothers.

• I've recently joined because of the Mind Organization that was offered. I've enjoyed my recent visits to your website because of the great articles I read regarding motherhood. I look forward to learning more about becoming the mom I want to be.

• I love the articles. I usually identify with the topics presented and almost always laugh out loud while reading them to myself. It makes me feel that I'm not alone in my mothering journey and I appreciate the candor, but always positive spin from the writers. I also appreciate the quality of the writing. That's why I have not applied for entrance into this "writers' club". Almost all of them are articulate and clear all the while keeping the feeling of their pieces light and happy. This is a great boon to my spirits as I prepare to enter the trenches one more day...and hopefully love it as much as they do.

• I usually enjoy reading articles that apply to some of my personal challenges. I usually come away with a new idea or just encouragement to keep on going with the challenges I face as a mom and usually feel validated in the sense that I am not alone. I like knowing that my challenges are not just my own but that others have similar challenges and are finding ways to overcome them. It gives me hope.

• I come because every time I do....I leave feeling empowered to be a better mom and woman. I love the encouragement, the ideas, and the feeling of unity.

Thanks to everyone for filling out our survey.  We appreciate you and love working with you.

Salt Lake City Retreat

Our Power of Moms Retreats have been some of the best experiences of my life, and April 16th, we'll be holding one in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Come join us!

Saren and I have been talking about this Retreat for quite awhile, and we are both so excited about it!  Since our Resort/Getaway Retreats are quite pricey, we thought it would be nice to offer a one-day conference where deliberate mothers can gather for empowering discussions and meaningful classes.  (We're also offering a three-hour Mind Organization for Moms seminar the day before.  Click here to see our Retreat Information/Sign-up Page.)

As we researched a variety of locations for this Retreat, Saren mentioned that her parents had invited us to hold it at their home near Park City, and I was absolutely thrilled with the idea.  I said, "Saren, hanging out at your parents' house might not be that big of a deal to you, but for the rest of us, it's the chance of the lifetime!" 

When do you ever get to spend a whole day in the Eyre home?  How often can you sit in Linda Eyre's kitchen and simply absorb her goodness and power? (If you're not familiar with the Eyres click here.  They are wonderful.)

We held our Power of Moms Advisory Board meeting at the Eyre home in September, and my time there was magical.  

They even have a gong set up, and if we're lucky, I bet Richard Eyre will ring it for us as we begin each session.

Even washing dishes is fun at the Eyre house.  Doesn't Allyson look like she's having a blast?

I love the Eyre family--not because they have a corner on the "good family" market (I adore my own family, as well, and I'm sure you adore yours), but because their experiences writing books, teaching families, traveling the world, and building their own family is nothing less than inspiring.

When I was a new mom, Richard and Linda Eyre's books provided the practical, down-to-earth advice I needed to help me see the beauty, purpose, and fun of motherhood.  I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of this Retreat, and I would love to see you there!  

Our Very First Power of Moms Song

It's been a wonderful, busy month--visiting with extended family, speaking at BYU Idaho's Education Week and Especially for Youth in Provo, and now enjoying some time with my own little family.  I'll be back on task next week, refreshed and ready to go after this much-needed vacation.

In the meantime, here's a fun video put together by Mindy, Valerie, and a nice man who was playing the guitar at the Red Mountain Spa restaurant during our Power of Moms Retreat.  Thanks, gals, for putting together our very first song!

They Say Motherhood Doesn't Come With an Instruction Manual...

...or does it?

This makes me laugh...but wouldn't it be fun if every mom could be part of a supportive community of mothers the second she got home from the hospital?  That's our vision.  New moms are born every day, and we want them to be part of The Power of Moms.

What on earth are we thinking?

Saren and I had a "Power of Moms" phone call this morning that I just had to write about.  She was in the car with her husband and five children, driving to Bear Lake for an Eyre Family Reunion, and I was running circles around my kitchen, trying desperately to carry on a normal conversation while I juggled way too many things at the same time.

We feel absolutely compelled to run this organization while we are "in the trenches" of motherhood so we know what it is that moms are going through, but sometimes we wonder what on earth we're doing.  Part of our conversation went something like this:

SAREN: Okay, so I absolutely agree that we need to do a better job reaching out to a more diverse group of moms...guys, shhhh.


APRIL (while wiping counters): Yes, let's start working on those ideas we've been emailing back and forth.  Do NOT take those bubbles into the living room.  Outside.  Bubbles go outside.  And what do you think about our new Power of Moms Author?  Spencer, don't jump on Lucy's tail!  (Spencer is my two-year-old, and Lucy is the dog we're babysitting for the week).  Yes, Ethan!  I love what a good job you're doing taking care of the dog.


SAREN: Yeah, I think the author is great!  Her message is something that I think resonates with moms everywhere.

APRIL: Sorry Saren---hold on a second, someone's at the door.  Oh, hi!  (It's our friends, the dog owners). Thanks for dropping off the dog dish.  Have fun on your trip!  Okay, I'm back.  Did you get a chance to read the Mind Organization for Mom edits yet?

SAREN: No, I haven't yet.  It's been really busy these past few days, and I've been totally exhausted at night.  I'll get to them as soon as I can.

APRIL (now folding clothes from the dryer): Oh, don't worry about it.  I'll have some more edits in a few days, and you can read them all at once.  Arrggh, the dog just came running in the house with mud all over her feet.  Ethan, get a towel and clean that up, okay?  Alia, it's not time for computer games right now.  You've been really patient, and I'll be off in a minute, but please don't ask me while I'm on the phone.  No, Grace, I'm not sure if we're going swimming today or not.  It's kind of cloudy.  We'll talk about it in a second, okay?.  Saren, are you still there?

SAREN: Yes...someday we're going to look back on these days and wonder how we got anything done. How about we end for now so you can spend time with your children, and we'll talk for a few more minutes later this week?

APRIL: Okay, sounds good.  Talk to you later.

We normally try to schedule our phone calls around nap times or quiet times, but today was one of those days we just had to talk about a few quick things, and there weren't any big chunks of time when our schedules overlapped.  We're both trying extremely hard to put our families first, set firm boundaries around our Power of Moms work, and make the best decisions possible regarding the progression of the site.  It just feels nearly impossible sometimes.

I just had a great phone call this evening with one of our Power of Moms Trainers' husbands (did that all make sense?), and he gave me tons of exciting tips on how to improve our website and our ability to reach more moms.  I wish I could just snap my fingers and make it all happen, but I know it will...with a little work each day, squeezed into whichever minutes I can spare.  I can't tell you how grateful I am for all the good people who are volunteering their time to make this site something wonderful.

My husband and I had a talk this evening (while I was at the height of the day's frustrations...making dinner, cleaning up the wet swim towels, drafting a letter to a Power of Moms mentor that had to be finished by 6 p.m., answering dozens of questions from very tired children, and wiping smeared watermelon off the tile), and I asked him, "Why am I doing this?  Even when I'm organized, I still have to juggle.  What if our children grow up and think I was so busy helping other people be good moms that I never had time to be a good mom?"  Seriously, that's a question that goes through my mind every day.

It's times like that when my husband gives me a hug, tells me that everything will be all right, reassures me that I'm doing a good job with our family, and says, "Someday they'll know why you were doing all this.  They'll see what you built, they'll know how much you love them, and they will understand all the sacrifices it required."

I think that advice applies to every mom who is trying hard to build a stronger world.  If we're careful about how we spend our time, if we're prayerful about the choices we make, and if we make sure we take every opportunity to love our family members, we'll all be the better for it.

So on that note, I'm going to sleep.  I've got to get enough rest so I won't be cranky again tomorrow....

Mind Organization for Moms Videos

For someone who really doesn't like to make videos of herself, I think it's kind of funny that I've posted two videos in a row this week.  I would never have even started making videos if it weren't for the Mom 2.0 Summit, where I learned that videos are important if you want your new friends to get to know you through the computer screen...so here you go!

Last weekend, Saren's family came and stayed with us for a few days, and an hour before they headed back to St. George, her husband, Jared, took six children to the park so Saren and I could record this video.  We were so squished into my home office that there wasn't room for Saren to sit behind the computer (which is why I'm looking up during the whole thing--she was leaning against my husband's desk).

So many people have asked if they could see how I implemented Mind Organization for Moms into my own life, and I figured this would also be a good way to better explain the system to potential M.O.M. participants.  David Allen has put together such an incredible system, and I am determined to share it with all the moms out there who are feeling as stressed out as I was.

One fun side note is that the desk I'm sitting at in this video was my Mother's Day present from my husband.  I only had a little card table before this, so he did some research on Craig's List and found this awesome desk for $20.  He drove out to the seller's home to buy it, carted it back to our house (and all the way up the stairs), and got it completely set up for me while I was out running errands.  To me, that spells ROMANCE!

Another reason I'm so excited about the desk is because it shows that you can get totally organized for less than $100...including your supplies, furniture, and the Mind Organization for Moms program.

I've got some great edits to M.O.M. "in the works" right now, and I'm trying to get them up online before my children get out of school for summer break, but these late nights are killing me, so I promised myself I'd be in bed by midnight tonight.

The program is still being offered for $30 (until September 1st), and we're also offering it free until that date to anyone who shares our site with 30 moms.  Click HERE for details.  My goal is to get 1,000 moms using the program by August 31st, so if you have any friends who want to get organized, please spread the word!

Thanks for all your support, everyone!



Here's Part 2.  Seriously, could they capture a better facial expression in the still frame?

Our New Welcome Video for The Power of Moms

I STILL haven't unpacked from our Power of Moms Retreat, but this past week has been full of exciting developments with The Power of Moms, and although I am more tired now than I've ever been in my life, I'm also really optimistic about all that's in store.

Saren and her family came and stayed with us for the weekend, and we had tons of fun going to the beach, playing kickball at the park, and staying up late into the night planning the future of the website (9 children in my little house was quite a squeeze, but they all got along so well, and we were having so much fun that we didn't even notice the mess!).

Our husbands have made all this possible for us.  They've been helping us out every step of the way, and while we made the video below, they took care of the children and cleaned the kitchen...quite the memorable Father's Day, I'm sure.  (We did try to make it special for them with a nice breakfast, homemade cards, and some chocolate treats from Trader Joe's.)

So that's what's been going on here....  I'll blog more soon!

-April